On Monday, October 17th, 2022, Harper County Commissioners signed Resolution #49, declaring a burn ban within Harper County for a period of no more than 14 days. The Resolution is as follows:
RESOLUTION #18
HARPER COUNTY BURN BAN
WHEREAS: The HARPER County Board of Commissioners pursuant to the authority granted to the Board by Section 16-26.B of Title 2 of the Oklahoma Statutes, do hereby proclaim that extreme fire danger exists in HARPER County. This situation (as defined in Section 16-26.B.l a-d, Title 2, O.S.) has been verified by a documented concurrence of the majority of the County's Fire Chiefs or their designates.
WHEREAS By virtue of this resolution, it is unlawful for any person to set fire to any forest, grass, range, crop, or other wildlands or to build a campfire or bonfire or to burn rubbish or other material that may cause a forest, grass, range, crop or other wildland fire. All outdoor burning in progress at the time of the passage of this resolution are ordered to be fully extinguished immediately by the property owner or his/her designate. Controlled burns or other activities stated herein which have occurred prior to the passage of this resolution and are ongoing at the time of the passage of this resolution shall not be a defense violation of this resolution.
WHEREAS: Any law enforcement officer of the State of Oklahoma may carry out the enforcement of this resolution. Any person convicted of violating this resolution shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be subject to a fine of not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), to imprisonment of not more than one (1) year, or to both such fine and imprisonment.
WHEREAS: Certain exceptions may be attached to this resolution by HARPER County.
EXCEPTIONS: Exceptions may be authorized as checked below:
___ EXCEPTIONS ARE GRANTED TO THIS BURN BAN
X FOR EQUIPMENT RELATED TO ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
Equipment which uses propane or other controlled type burners is generally regarded as safe, however it will be required to have a water pumper on standby any time this equipment is used near a grassy right-of-way. Such requirement is the responsibility of the company or organization conducting the construction, and is not the responsibility of the fire department within the jurisdiction in which the construction activities are taking place.
X WELDING/CUTTING TORCH/GRINDING ACTIVITIES
When conducted over a non-combustible surface of at least 10 feet by 10 feet and when welding blankets or screens are used to cover flammable vegetation, and;
1) Wind speeds are less than 20 m.p.h. and;
2) A fire watch, other than the welder, is posted at the welding/cutting torch site with pressurized water or a fire extinguisher.
X CAMPFIRES AND OUTDOOR COOKING
Outdoor campfires or bonfires are prohibited. LPG and charcoal-fired cooking outside in a grilling receptacle are permitted provided that the activity is conducted over a non-flammable surface and at least five feet from flammable vegetation.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the HARPER County Board of Commissioners made this COUNTY WIDE BURN BAN effective immediately for a period of not to exceed fourteen (14) days from the date of passage by the Board of County Commissioners. If extreme fire danger conditions persist, subsequent resolutions may be passed. This Burn Ban may be removed at any time during the thirty-day period by the same method by which it was approved, and may be overridden at any time by a lawfully-declared Burn Ban by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma.
Adopted this 17th day of October, 2022 by the Board of County Commissioners of Harper County.
